Luxe Living for Less
Ever since our last trip to Mendocino, Ryan and I kept saying we should really come back without the kids. Traveling with kids is always fun, but sometimes it’s just so nice to sneak away and leave the kids behind, wouldn’t you agree?
[Read more…] about Designer Destination | The Brewery Gulch Inn
A few weeks ago during spring break, we decided to do a very stereotypical thing for spring break…We went to Florida! Where did we go in Florida? No, not Disney World, no, not Miami, no, not Ft. Lauderdale. We went to Rosemary Beach. Now you may have that blank look that most of our friends gave us when announcing our destination. Or if you’re from the Mid-West or the South you’ll know EXACTLY where. Rosemary Beach is a lesser known beach destination on the gulf coast (commonly referred to as the Emerald Coast) or inner coast of Florida. There’s a tiny little strip of a highway called 30A rolling through a bunch of gorgeous little beach towns each with their own distinct personality. We mostly spent our time in Rosemary beach and it’s gorgeous cousin, Alys Beach, just a hop, skip and a bike ride down 30A.
[Read more…] about 36 Hours | Rosemary Beach FloridaLast weekend, the Mr and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary with a little staycation at what I’ve considered one of the most iconic hotels in California, the Claremont hotel. The Claremont has been around since 1915 and it’s like a white beacon on the Oakland/Berkeley border. It’s always inspiring to see its bright, white facade in contrast to the lush green trees and hills it’s nestled in. Growing up I had always wanted to stay there, but until last weekend that dream hadn’t come true. Spending a couple of days there was the perfect way to celebrate our anniversary. And after seeing its amazing architectural details and decor, I knew it was going to be my next Designer Destination. Just check out that pool house and deck done in all white and black, could that be any more perfect?
[Read more…] about Designer Destination | The Claremont Hotel Berkeley
A couple of weeks ago we took a little family road trip up the coast to a great Northern California beach town called Mendocino. There’s just something about the NorCal coast that just calls to me. The beaches are so wild and rustic compared to your typical California beach. The rocks, bluffs, trees and plants are so gorgeous up here. We stayed at this great historic hotel called the Little River Inn. In fact, they’ve been in operation since 1939 with the same family! Innkeeper Cally Dym is the fifth generation owner along with her husband, Executive Chef Marc Dym. The inn has a notable guest history as well, from Ronald Reagan to James Dean (while filming East of Eden). It’s situated right off of Highway 1, on the bluff right above the beach. The view is seriously stunning, it doesn’t get any better.
[Read more…] about Designer Destination | Little River Inn Mendocino
We took advantage of the holiday last week and decided to get some snow fun in. Arden had ski week (the whole week off) so we packed our bags and headed off to Tahoe. This time we decided instead of hitting up our usual destination, we’d mix it up a bit and stay in South Lake Tahoe. I had heard of a gorgeous (yet reasonably priced!!!) hotel there called the Coachman. After seeing pics of it, I just new I had to stay there.
It’s been a little while since I’ve shared a Designer Destination with you all and I have SUCH a great one to share with you guys today: Solage located in Calistoga. I’ve been an admirer of Solage for awhile now and I’m excited that we got a chance to stay there a few weeks ago. It was just as amazing as I had hoped.
Solage is tucked away in a nice little corner of town, just a hop away from Lincoln Ave. The grounds are gorgeous and the hotel is spread out with rooms in several quaint cottages with a main lobby and restaurant in larger modern farmhouse-style buildings. There are complimentary beach cruisers placed around the property for your leisure, very cool. I managed to take a quick jaunt around the grounds after checking in! The pool is amazing, with palm trees and mountains serving as its backdrop.
I had the pleasure of attending Sunset Magazine‘s newest gardens and outdoor test kitchen opening a few weeks ago at Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma. It was beautiful and so inspiring! They had some amazing speakers and demos going on. So many fun vendors and activities going on a well. But underneath it all lies the gorgeousness of the gardens themselves. If you’re in the Sonoma area (wine tasting perhaps?) its definitely worth the trip.
[Read more…] about Designer Destination | Sunset Magazine Gardens
Remember when I said I’d be posting more on my travels? Well, I’ve decided to start a new series called Designer Destinations. As you all know in my 36 hour posts, I like to feature places that are aesthetically pleasing. I make it a priority to visit places that are appealing to the senses, whether it’s a restaurant, boutique or hotel. I’d love to be able to share these fun spots with you guys!
The first place I wanted to share with you is the Farmhouse Inn in Sonoma County. I stayed there a few weeks ago with the whole family and it was just gorgeous. I know you guys would love it. They did a major renovation not too long ago resulting in some majorly gorgeous digs. I had serious house envy going on. It’s one of the very few hotels I’ve stayed where I felt like moving in. I really could have stayed forever 😉 Pretty idyllic right?
